The Civil War’s Wheat Boom During the Civil War, wheat became one of the most valuable crops in the United States. With soldiers and civilians alike needing bread and other staples, demand soared—and so did prices. Farmers across the Midwest and East quickly responded, planting more wheat than ever before. Fields that once held diverse crops were converted to wheat …
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
A Pioneering Moment in American Agriculture In 1873, Illinois farmer Fred Hatch built what is believed to be America’s first version of the modern silo. During this period, grain storage was a persistent challenge for farmers who struggled to keep their harvest safe from spoilage, rot, and rodent damage. Hatch’s creative solution to this problem would set a precedent for …
How the Cargill Brothers Built an Agricultural Empire in Iowa
The Birth of Cargill: From Iowa Grain Storage to Global Agribusiness Surplus Grain Sparks Innovation In the mid-1800s, America’s agricultural landscape was changing rapidly. As grain production soared, farmers across the Midwest began facing an unexpected problem — too much success. With harvests exceeding their personal needs and limited local markets, many were forced to sell crops quickly or risk …
National Corn Growers Join Effort to Modernize Pesticide Drift Model
NCGA Joins AMP to Help Modernize EPA’s Pesticide Drift Model Software The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has joined a national initiative to modernize pesticide drift modeling software used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), aiming to ensure more accurate assessments of spray drift and its environmental impact. “The National Corn Growers Association is joining a project with the goal …
Private Crop Report Estimates
USDA Crop Report Suspended, But Private Estimates Offer Insight on Corn and Soybeans Following the recent government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the suspension of its monthly crop report, a key source of market-moving data for farmers, analysts, and traders alike. However, despite the lack of official data, Bottom Line analysts have compiled their own report using …
An Update on the US Corn Crop Harvest at the end of September
USDA Reports 18% of U.S. Corn Harvested by September 28 With harvests well underway across the Corn Belt, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey provided an update on the pace of this year’s U.S. corn harvest as of September 28th, 2025. The national harvest is slightly behind schedule, with regional disparities based on weather and crop maturity. “The corn harvest number for …
Plymouth Colony Crops: Corn, Tobacco, and Early Trade
The First Crops in Plymouth Colony When the first settlers arrived in Plymouth, they planted barley and peas brought from England. But their most important crop soon became Indian corn, or maize. Corn was not only more adaptable to New England’s soil and climate but also provided a dependable food source critical for survival. Native Farming Techniques and Fertilization The …
Harvesting Corn With Higher Moisture Increases Yields
Harvesting Corn at Higher Moisture Can Preserve Yields, Say Iowa State Agronomists Conventional wisdom has long said that harvesting corn at 15% moisture is ideal—but Iowa State University agronomists say it may be time to rethink that standard. Their recent studies suggest that 20–22% moisture may actually be the sweet spot for corn harvest, offering both yield and cost advantages. …
USDA Deregulates Bayer GMO Corn Variety
USDA Deregulates Bayer MON 95379 Genetically Modified Corn In a recent decision impacting the future of genetically modified crops, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has officially deregulated Bayer U.S.-Crop Science MON 95379 corn. This genetically engineered corn variety was developed to resist feeding damage from several significant pests, including fall armyworm, sugarcane …
Fire Danger Increased From Dry Conditions At Harvest
Harvest 2025 Ahead of Average, But Dry Conditions Raise Fire Concerns Harvest 2025 continues to move ahead of the five-year average in several key states, fueled by another week of dry weather. While this helps speed up fieldwork, the lack of moisture is increasing fire danger across much of the country. Conditions in some areas are less severe than in …










